Today is the official release date for "A Jazzy Christmas" by Thisbe Vos. Thisbe went the crowd-funding route to bring this dream to disc and she also did something a bit unique in that those who participated in the crowd-funding effort received their CDs or downloads last year--a full year before the official release. I'm a big fan of crowd-funding, generally, and I like Thisbe's wrinkle of rewarding contributors with a full year advance (though I wouldn't want them all to be like that). You would think that, having had a full year to listen to this, I would have had plenty of time to write out a review long ago. But I didn't write a review in all that time. If procrastination were an Olympic sport, I'd surely be a gold medalist. So the time has come. Let's do this thing.

Born in the Netherlands and currently residing in California, Thisbe is a traditional romantic Jazz vocalist in the grand tradition of artists like Peggy Lee, Julie London, Jo Stafford, and Sarah Vaughn. Her voice is as smooth as silk and as warm as fresh gingerbread. She is, in short, exactly the kind of artist you want to listen to while snuggling with your special someone by a cozy fire.

Were Thisbe "merely" a vocalist, she would already be extraordinary. But she's also a songwriter and producer...a triple threat...a modern day renaissance woman. Remarkably, the music Thisbe writes sounds as though it were written in the Golden Age of The Great American Songbook and Tin Pan Alley. This is the style in which she trades--not just because it fits her voice like an extra long satin glove--but because she loves it. Talented from an early age, Thisbe gravitated to this musical path--once well trod but nearly abandoned in recent decades--against the advice of pretty much everyone who advised her there was much more money to be made elsewhere.

It might just be my opinion--I've got no charts or graphs or polls to prove it--but the one place where romantic Jazz is still held in the highest esteem is the world of Christmas music. We all still seek out every obscure track from the Golden Age and worship every note of the original Christmas standards. Even most of those who specialize in other, less traditional and more raucous Christmas sounds, have an appreciation and understanding of the classics. They don't call 'em standards for nothin'. So it makes sense that Thisbe would record a Christmas recordand it makes sense that it's an outstanding success. Aside from the sound quality, which is flawless, "A Jazzy Christmas" sounds very much like an album from the 40s or 50s. Friends and family will find it so familiar that they'll be certain they will "remember" the name of the vocalist if given a minute or two.It's no carbon copy, though. Thisbe lets her exceptional musicians have plenty of room, allowing"A Jazzy Christmas" to live up to its title. I can pretty much guarantee you the musicians supporting popular vocalists in the fifties were on a much shorter leash. The formula works perfectly and should easily appeal to just about everyone.

"A Jazzy Christmas" gets off to a swingin' start with "Let It Snow", which Thisbe originally recorded in 2013. Not only is Ms. Vos in top notch form, but we get some stellar work from Gary Matsumoto on piano and Nolan Shaheed on the flugelhorn.

Climbing down the tempo ladder just a bit, we next get the first of Thisbe's four holiday originals, "It Must Be Christmas Time". There a touch of New Orleans in this one without being heavy handed about it. And once again we get brilliant work from Nolan Shaheed and the rest of the horn and woodwind section.

"It's Beginning To Snow", another song written by Thisbe, follows and has a beautiful nostalgic feel to it. It might just be the best Christmas waltz since, well, "The Christmas Waltz".

The third Thisbe Vos original in succession is "When Moonlight Has Hit The Town", my current favorite on the album (though I've been through about eight "my favorite"s since last year). There's a lovely, dreamy intro verse which gives way to a more swinging beat for the song's final two-thirds. This one spotlights Thisbe's vocal skills, and she's got mad skills. Range, phrasing, precision and passion--they're letter perfect. She takes hold of notes even the angels wouldn't attempt.

Time for a little romance. Bobby Troup's "I'd like You For Christmas", most often associated with Julie London, is beautiful when anyone sings it and Thisbe certainly sounds fantastic. But my heart still holds the version by Dave's True Story as "the best ever", so I've lost my ability to be objective about it. All I can fairly say about Thisbe's version is "what's not to love"?"Christmas Is Everywhere", the final Thisbe original (co-written with Gary Matsumoto), closes out the first half of the record with a staccato tour de force and some fantastic clarinet from Geoff Nudell.

The second half of "A Jazzy Christmas" features familiar songs of the season. Thisbe and Elmer Hopper do Frank Loesser proud on "Baby, It's Cold Outside". "Santa Baby" is sort of obligatory at this point, but at least Thisbe sings it properly--with a sly smile and a wink and completely free of camp or affect. "Silver Bells" gets just a subtle touch of Blues, courtesy of some more mighty fine keyboard work from Mr. Matsumoto. Between that and another superb performance from Thisbe, it's easily one of the best versions I've heard.

If you've been looking for the perfect version of "The Christmas Song" featuring a female vocalist, Thisbe's got it.Yep, your Christmas practically demands Thisbe's "The Christmas Song", which also features some warm and tasty romantic sax, though I'm not sure if that's from Benn Clatworthy or Allan Walker (I'm going to guess Allan, given his history in Blues and R&B). That was one of my earlier "my favorite"s and, listening again, just now, it might have just retaken that mountain.

"Jingle Bells" is one of those songs that, really, requires Jazz and Thisbe and friends give it plenty.Yet another favorite. And the album closes with a slowed down waltz version of "Deck The Halls", which presents a whole lot of beauty to that melody that the traditional versions completely blow right by. I don't even dance and I can see myself spinning around the dance floor with a beautiful lady (who is somewhat inexplicably wearing a Victorian gown; she looks good, though). A very pretty arrangement and a good closer (never thought of "Deck The Halls"as a closing number before).

If you've always liked the standards and music from the era of the Great American Songbook, you're going to love "A Jazzy Christmas". And if you were never all that much into the standards and music from the era of the Great American Songbook, you're going to love "A Jazzy Christmas". Thisbe Vos has created a Christmas album that everyone will agree on. It's a warm comforter that you're going to want to wrap yourself in until Old Man Winter has gone away. The album should be available through all the major on-line retailers and, if you'd like an autographed copy, you can order directly from the lady, herself (be sure to click on the second item in the store window--the one that says "signed").

1. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas2. Let It Snow3. Deck the Halls4. O Little Town of Bethlehem5. Go Tell It On the Mountain6. I'll Be Home for Christmas7. Do You Hear What I Hear8. Russian Dance9. Jingle Bells10. A Not-So Silent Night11. Christmas Time Is Here12. Children Go Where I Send Thee

I've been hoping against hope to find the time to give "Christmas Time Is Here" from The Knoxville Jazz Orchestra the full review it so richly deserves--and I still hope to do so as soon as I can--so I've been remiss in failing to post anything short of that. But, lest you miss out on one of this season's true delights, let me at least give you the heads up.

Though I grew up a Top 40 kid--a "bubblegum child" as I'm known to say--when I'm listening to music for my own head, these days, Jazz and Blues are my genres of choice. I approached this album with just a bit of trepidation due to the word "Orchestra" in the group's moniker. But, trust me, the emphasis here is on the Jazz.

The KJO is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization born in 1999 and dedicated to spreading an appreciation of Jazz to listeners far and near. Among the delightful and inspiring ways they do this is with free performances in Knox County schools. Man, I wish someone had introducedme to Jazz when I was in school. Of course, they also put on concerts for the general population, including six annually in downtown Knoxville.The Knoxville Jazz Orchestrais made up of 17 of Eastern Tennessee's finest musicians and they routinely perform with Jazz greats and world renowned artists.

"Christmas Time Is Here" covers a lot of stylistic ground, from classic Swing, to Hard Bop, to Gospel to Blues and beyond. The song list, the arrangements, the solos, the album is/are entirely sensational from beginning to end. KJOtakes well worn carols like "O Little Town of Bethlehem" and "Do You Hear What I Hear"to places you've never been before, but places you'll want to visit again and again.

There are hat tips to many of the greats on this set--from McCoy Tyner to John Coltrane to Count Basie to the author of the title track, Vince Guaraldi. Hell, I swear I heard a riff from Emerson, Lake & Palmer's "Brain Salad Surgery" in there. But the KJO, while paying tribute to the masters, make these songs all their own. They begin by affording each song the proper respect due such standards. And, then...... they simply soar.

If I had one minor disappointment, it would be that I felt guest vocalist Jill Andrews was under utilized. But, while everyone here shines like the glorious star at the top of your tree, Dan Trudell absolutely makes this album with his astounding work on the Hammond B-3. I've said it before and I'll say it again: nothing says Christmas quite so much as the Hammond B-3 organ and Trudell offers up some of the tastiest and swingingest organ play since Jimmy Smith wentCookin. What Trudell does with "Go Tell It On The Mountain" has to be heard to be believed. Whoa! This KJO version of that number will blow your mind, spin you around, and then blow your mind again. And, lest you think otherwise from my remarks so far, this swinging set isn't lacking in the holiday spirit department either.

Right now, "Christmas Time Is Here" is showing as a digital release onAmazon. But you can order the hard-copy CD direct from the KJO web site. And you definitely should.There are a limited number of hard copy CDs available and you will only be able to get them through the KJO website through December 22. Do not miss out.If you dig Jazz--and perhaps especially if you don't--"Christmas Time Is Here" is a full holiday buffet that will leave you as happily fulfilled as the perfect Christmas dinner.

I don’t know that there has ever been an album that reminds me more of a string of those blinking multi-colored lights.

Justin Time Records is perhaps Canada’s #1 Jazz label, and likely one of their finest exports as well. Born in 1983, the label has released many a fine Christmas album in the past, including Oliver Jones’ “Yuletide Swing” in 1994 and four “Justin Time For Christmas” compilations. This year, the label released another compilation, “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” as well.

The label’s first three signees--Oliver Jones, Ranee Lee, and the Montreal Jubilation Gospel Choir—are still with Justin Time after all these years. And someone thought it would be a grand idea to bring the three acts together for an all new Christmas recording, “A Celebration In Time”.

The artists take turns providing holiday cheer—red bulb, blue bulb, green bulb—they light up in succession. First up is Ranee Lee who has long been a favorite of mine. Ranee was always one of the best Jazz singers around, but I can not get over how much better she sounds now than ever before. There is so much more texture and depth in her vocals. How she managed to improve upon perfection, I will never know. Ranee has drawn comparisons to Sarah Vaughn and she shows why when she kicks things off with a grand and swinging rendition of “(There’s No Place Like) Home For The Holidays”.

Ranee turns the proceedings over to Oliver Jones who sparkles on a surprisingly fresh and lively arrangement of "We Three Kings Of Orient Are". And The Montreal Jubilation Gospel Choir follows that with a glorious rendition of "Silent Night" (featuring Dayhana M. Santos as the vocal soloist and a ripping sax solo from Dan Martel), after which Oliver returns for a solo piano medley of "O Little Town Of Bethlehem" and "It Came Upon A Midnight Clear".

If your string of lights is anything like mine, there's always that one bulb that doesn't match any of the others. "Such a pretty color," you think to yourself, "I wish there were more of those". So it is that after four straight bring-down-the-house performances, we are treated to what I think is the best track on "A Celebration In Time". The Daphnee Louis Singers, a quartet from Haiti, have appeared with The Montreal Jubilation Gospel Choir in the past and the Choir's director Trevor Payne was happy to have them along for this project. When the Daphnee Louis Singers perform "Gras Bondye/Seigneur J'eleve Ton Nom" with as much energy and joy as they do, you feel an almost irresistible urge to get out of your seat and dance—even if you can't understand a single word they're singing.

Ranee has the unenviable task of following the Singers and she presents an upbeat "What Child Is This?" whose arrangement, to me, sounds halfway between a bossa and a tango—with just a dash of Smooth Jazz tossed in for good measure. Then it's back to Oliver, who sounds very Oscar Peterson on "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen". Ranee again gives a more uptempo spin to "The Christmas Waltz" than we usually hear and, here, I feel a bit of the spirit of the late Lena Horne. The Montreal Jubilation Gospel Choir gives us a rousing reggae "Little Drummer Boy" (in English and French) before all of the artists join forces to close "A Celebration In Time" with Oscar Peterson's "Hymn To Freedom".

Normally, if I see "choir" anywhere on a record, I run as fast as I can in the other direction. But I'm happy I resisted that impulse in this case because "A Celebration In Time" is a solid Jazz effort with a few unexpected gifts in the bargain, and I love Jazz. As a Christmas album, "A Celebration In Time" succeeds on both celebrational and spiritual levels. If you're a fan of Jazz music at all, you really can't go wrong with anything from Oliver Jones, or Ranee Lee, so an album that features both PLUS The Montreal Jubilation Gospel Choir AND the Daphnee Louis Singers is really a no-brainer.

And now would be a good time to stock up on Justin Time's holiday albums since the label has most, if not all of them, on sale for $10 each through the end of 2011.

REviews

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